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Amite High bans valedictorian from walking in graduation

Andrew Jones was hoping to be on the receiving end of his high school diploma from Amite High School, but on graduation day last Wednesday, the future wide receiver for Southeastern Louisiana University says he wasn't allowed to march.

Andrew Jones was hoping to be on the receiving end of his high school diploma from Amite High School, but on graduation day last Wednesday, the future wide receiver for Southeastern Louisiana University says he wasn't allowed to march.

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Updated: 7:40 PM CDT May 23, 2016

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WEBVTT UP TO BIG PROBLEMS FOR THESCHOLAR ATHLETE. NATALIE: ANDREW JONES WAS HOPINGTO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OFHIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BUT ONGRADUATION DAY LAST WEDNESDAY,THE FUTURE WIDE RECEIVER FOR SLUSAYS HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO MARCH.>> THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR, I HADTHE WHOLE BEARD.I CUT IT AND JUST LEFT THEGOATEE.NATALIE: A GOATEE FACIAL HAIRTHE 18-YEAR-OLD SAYS HE LEFT ONHIS FACE AFTER SCHOOL BOARDOFFICIALS ASKED HIM TO GET RIDOF HIS BEARD WARNING HIM THATSCHOOL POLICY SAYS HE WON'T BEABLE TO MARCH IF HE DOESN'TSHAVE. >> IT'S RIDICULOUS TO ME. PLUS, THE OTHER SCHOOLS IN THEDISTRICT THEY GRADUATED BEFOREUS COUPLE DAYS BEFORE US ANDTHEY HAD THE GOATEE AND ALL THATAND THEY STILL GOT TO MARCH INALL THAT.NATALIE: JONES HAD STRAIGHT A'SALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND WASVALEDICTORIAN OF HIS CLASS.>> I HAD A REFLECTION AND APRAYER AND TURNING OF THETASSLES AND ALL THAT. NATALIE: AND YOU WERENT ALLOWEDTO DO ANY OF THAT? >> THEY JUST PUT SOMEBODY IN MYSPOT. >> THEY TOLD HIM THEY COULDN'TSIT IN THE STAND, I MEAN, HEWASN'T EVEN RECOGNIZED AT THEPROGRAM. IT WAS LIKE HE DIDN'T EVENEXIST. NATALIE: YOU MEAN THEY DIDN'TEVEN CALL HIS NAME? >> NO.NATALIE: TANGIPAHOA SCHOOL BOARDPRESIDENT BRETT DUNCAN SAYSANDREW WAS GIVEN A LOT OFOPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLY WITH THERULES.>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF USSHOULD FIND IT SURPRISING ORSHOCKING THAT SOMEONE INAUTHORITY ACTUALLY FOLLOWEDTHROUGH ON WHAT THEY SAID THECONSEQUENCES WOULD BE.

Amite High bans valedictorian from walking in graduation

Andrew Jones was hoping to be on the receiving end of his high school diploma from Amite High School, but on graduation day last Wednesday, the future wide receiver for Southeastern Louisiana University says he wasn't allowed to march.